This week's Blog Carnival, sponsored by Peter Pollock of "Rediscovering the Church", and Bridget Chumbley of "One Word at a Time", takes as its prompt the word "church". Below is my second offering, a poem inspired late last night by comments from nAncY on Glynn Young's post, "A Line I Can't Cross". nAncY said, ". . . i think that we possibly build walls that are for comfort and they can become walls of separation if we do not ever open a door. . . ." (Note to nAncY: I took some liberties with my interpretation of your words.) You will find others' Blog Carnival contributions, which will be added throughout the day, here, at Bridget's place.
Church
Look,
we build walls
we add pews
a bell a cross unadorned
Side by
side we collect
knit prayers on knees
raw with asking
accept body and
blood unto our own
looking for
miracles
Tell me,
if I come to the door
if the door is locked
do I wait
Look,
a door walls
pews a bell
change nothing
faith does
I can stand
out
I can stand
in
Outside
In
Inside
Out
The test's the same
A door walls
pews a bell
change nothing
hope can
He can
Copyright © 2009 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.
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11 comments:
I love this poem. From "We build walls" and its double meaning to "He can." I love this.
I love poetry! You paint a wonderful picture :-)
Maureen ... very powerful poem!
I love this. So good- thanks.
Oh. My.
I think I always have that response when I stop here. (And when your words stop me.)
so many words that have been fluttering around for a couple of weeks have flown over here and landed on a field of flowers.
I was struck by the same walls that we build in our houses and our offices and what it takes to break through the walls. And we can't do it alone.
I liked your poem very much. It reminds me of the things we do to create a presence, in churches or businesses. The two are related and both have clearly defined rituals. I also was struck by the same walls we build in those places and even in our homes, and what it takes to break through them. We can't do that alone. Very thoughtful poem.
I love the rich image with so few words. You are quite a talent!
Jim
Wow!
Oh, yes. "He can"
This is convicting, Maureen.
a church without walls - can.
Thank you for this. powerful.
Thank you for a thought provoking poem :-)
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